Game and game apparatus



March 9, 1937.

R. K. STOCKTON GAME'AND GAME APPARATUS Filed Aug. 29,- 1954 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES GAME AND GAME APPARATUS Roscoe K. Stockton, Denver, 0010.

Application August 29,

19 Claims.

My invention relates to games of the general nature of quoits, and more particularly to a game in which an omegoid game piece, somewhat like a horseshoe, is pitched at a goal, such as a stake.

One object of my invention is to provide a game of this general character which combines both skill and chance, and in which, because of the greater playing opportunities offered, the rewards for superior skill or for good luck may be much greater than in games of similar char acter as usually played.

Another object of my invention is to provide a game apparatus suitable for playing this game, and comprising quoits or pitching members preferably more omegoid in shape than the conventional horseshoe, and a goal including both a plate and a stake, both the quoits and the stake being so modified from the usual form as to permit linkages or interlocks of quoit to quoit, quoit to plate, and quoit to stake, or positions of scoring values, so that unusual skill or good luck can be given an unusual reward.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved streamlined quoit or pitching mem- 25 ber of balanced geometrical design which is capable of interlocking or linking in various ways with the other similar quoits used in the game,

and also with the members of the goal and which is so balanced that it can be thrown easily with 30 minimum wabbling and maximum accuracy.

Still another object is to provide a goal with which my improved quoits when thrown may interlock or link in a multiplicity of ways.

Other objects and advantages of my invention 35 will appear from the more detailed description in this specification.

As the game of my invention somewhat resembles horseshoe pitching, but with its outcomes almost as much dependent upon luck as upon skill,

40 I shall, for convenience, refer to the game as Luxue (Luck-shoe). It is played with omegoid shaped pitching members or quoits having calks or projections and also one or more holes, these quoits being thrown to especially designed goal 45 members which have truncated conical projections and also recesses or holes for receiving the calks of other quoits. These calks and holes are so distributed upon the quoits and upon the goal members as to give chances for the various members of the game to interlock or link in certain predetermined relations to one another because of carefully planned spacing of the projections and holes and geometrical designs of the mem- 55 bers. Many different combinations or linkages 1934, Serial No. 741,915

are possible, depending upon the number of shoes involved and their relative positions. By assigning suitable score values to unusual linkages or positions, a premium may be placed on the skill or luck responsible for such linkages or positions. The quoits may be pitched at a plain pin or stake if desired, and the game depends upon the various linkages obtained with the pitched quoits, as well as their relation to the pin, but I prefer to use a goal with which the quoits may form linkages, 10 in addition to their linkages with one another. For example, the stake may be provided at its upper end with radially projecting pins which will enter the holes in a quoit, these pins being so designed and arranged that a quoit may be 15 caught and held upon them in various ways. Also a goal plate provided with holes and projections spaced to permit linkagewith the quoits may be used, either alone or preferably when set con centric with and at the base of the stake. With a goal composed of such a .stake and plate, the number of possible linkages of the quoits to one another and to the goal is great, and hence the attractiveness of the game is increased.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which merely for purposes of illustration I have shown one form of apparatus with which my improved game may be played, and in which Figure l is a plan view of one form of quoit or game piece constructed in accordance with my inventionyFigure 2 is an end view of the quoit shown in Figure 1, partly in cross-section along the line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the quoit along the line B-B of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows diagrammatically several quoits or shoes linked. together in various ways; Figure 5 is an elevation of a goal comprising a stake and a'plate constructed in accordance with my invention; 40 Figure 6 is a top view of the goal shown in Figure 5; and Figure '7 shows in cross-section the plate shown in Figures 5 and 6, the left half being in cross-section along the line CC, and the right half in cross-section along the line D-D of Figure 6.

The quoit I!) shown in Figure l, of the omegoid or horseshoe shape and hence for convenience referred to as a shoe, has on one face one or more projections perpendicular to the plane of the quoit and something like-the calkson a horseshoe. The form of quoit shown in Figure 1 has a toe projection H on the toe portion and two similar arm projections l2, one on each arm, and preferably near or on the end of each arm Cal of the shoe. These projections II and I2, which are something like horseshoe calks, are, as best shown in Figure 2, all alike and of substantially the same size, and preferably tapered or conical, and preferably each has a tapered or conical cavity l3 which is open on the other face of the shoe and at its open end is of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the upper end of the projection, so that a projection on one shoe will fit into the cavity of a projection on the other shoe. Thus two shoes may be linked together, and if the toe and heel portions of two shoes coincide, they will fit together perfectly. I prefer to provide in each arm of the shoe one or more recesses or holes slightly larger than the upper or tapered end of the projections on the shoe so that the shoes may also interlink by the entry of a projection into one of these holes. These holes and the cavities 13 in each quoit form pockets, each large enough to receive and hold one of the projections on another similar quoit. As best shown in Figure 1, there may be two holes [4 and I5 in each arm of the shoe, and the relative spacing of the holes I 4 and I5 and the toe projection II is such that the holes and the toe projection are equally spaced along the upper portion of the shoe. The holes l4, l5, the toe projection II, and the: two arm projections l2 are, as shown in the drawing, so spaced and positioned with reference to one another that the distance between the centers of the two arm projections is equal to the distance between the center of the toe projection H and the center of the hole l5, also equal to the center to center distance between the hole l5 and the arm projection I2 on each arm and also equal to the distance between centers of the two holes 14. This spacing of the projections and of the holes permits linkage of the shoes or quoits in a number of different ways, as a projection on one shoe may enter any pocket in the other shoe, either one another.

one of the holes or the cavity in a projection on the other shoe. Preferably both faces of the quoit are depressed in the vicinity of the holes [4 and 15 to provide a wide shallow groove which tends to guide the projections or calks of one quoit into the holes or recesses of another. Ample opportunity is thus provided for a multiplicity of linkages between quoit members, some of which are indicated in Figure 4.

The goal to which the quoits or shoes are pitched may be the usual plain pin or stake and the result of the game may be determined by the positions of the shoes with reference to the stake and the various linkages of the shoes with I prefer, however, to provide a goal which also has projections which will enter the holes and cavities in the shoes and upon which the quoits or shoes will catch and with which they will link in various ways, in addition to quoit to quoit linkages such as are indicated in Figure 4.

The stake which I prefer to use in this game consists, as shown in Figure 5, of a rod l6 which may be pointed at the lower end to facilitate driving it into the ground. The upper end is provided with a hub I7, generally cylindrical in form with a truncated conical top, and also serving as a head to facilitate driving of the stake. This hub, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, is provided with radial projecting pins l8 arranged in a row around the hub and may also have another similar row of pins [9 roughly parallel to the upper row of pins. These pins l8 and I9 are of a size and shape to fit into the pockets or holes and cavities of the quoit or shoe, and are preferably set with their axes inclined upward so as to facilitate the catching of the shoe on the pins. Each pin H3 in the upper row is spaced from the corresponding pin IS in the lower row a distance equal to the spacing of the holes l4 and IS in the shoe so that, for example, a shoe can be caught on the stake with a pin l8 in a hole l4 and a pin IS in a hole I 5, thus linking the shoe to the stake at two points.

To facilitate other and more complicated linkages of the shoes to the goal, I may also provide a goal plate 20 which, as shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7, may be in the form of a disc or plate having on its upper face projections 2|, perpendicular to the face and of about the size and shape of the projections or calks II and I2 on the quoit, so as to enter the pockets or holes and cavities of the shoe. The goal plate may also have pockets or holes 22, like the holes [4 and I5 of the quoit, to receive the projections or calks on the shoe. As shown in Figure 6, the projections and holes of the goal plate are near the rim of the plate and are so spaced that various linkages of the shoes to the plate can occur either by the entry of a projection of a shoe into a hole in the plate, or by the entry of a projection on the plate into one of the recesses 13, or one of the holes M or I5 of the shoe. Added features of the plate are a beveled edge 23 at the periphery, and a trough-like depression 24 just inside the edge to facilitate the obtaining of linkages.

The quoits, the stake, and the goal plate may be made of any suitable material and for outdoor use are usually made of metal, such as bronze or iron. For indoor use these parts may be made of rubber or some suitable molded composition. In case I prefer to use the goal plate 20 as a base plate for holding the stake I 6, this can be fitted into a center hole in the goal plate in any suitable way.

Very many combinations of linkages, or calk in.

hole joinings, of the quoits or shoes to one another and also to the goal plate and to the stake can occur. Many of these combinations of linkages and positions are unusual and seldom occur. By placing suitable scoring values on these unusual combinations and positions, any desired premium can be placed upon them. Since these rarely attained scoring combinations may be due either to great skill or to luck, there is an element of uncertainty and, therefore, of interest added to the game. Also since a suitable scoring system makes it possible for an unskilled player with one lucky throw to win the game over a highly skilled player who has failed to make a particular throw of high value, this interest is maintained despite great odds.

Many different scoring systems for use with the game can be developed. For example, unusual linkages and positions can be considered honors and assigned high scoring values, the value of each honor being dependent on the probability of its occurrence. These combinations and scoring values can be so chosen that the outcome of the game is dependent on both luck and skill.

The complete game equipment can be arranged to nest together in compact form to facilitate storage or transportation. A short chain and marker may be used to describe on the ground a circle about the pin l'o as a center, to form the boundary line of a court within which the quoits must fall. This chain may have attached to it a carrying handle, and thus form a convenient carrier for the nested equipment.

- the rim, a stake,

cgovsgsaa What I claim-as "new is--- 1. An omegoid'quoithavingfa projection,- and a holezin one .arm slightlylargerthan saidproe jectionand spaced from .saidsprojection' a distance sufficient toipermitJinka-ge to asimilar quoit having a similar projection.

2. An omegoid quoitshaving 'a -ztapered projece tion at the. toe and'a similaritapered' projection at the end. of each-iarm,' and-a holethrough each arm of said quoit between said toe projection and the endl-projection oneach .arm, said hole being slightly larger than the small end of said projections.

3. A horseshoe shaped quoit having a tapered projection at the toe and a similar tapered projection at the end of each arm-projecting vertically from one side of the quoit, all said projections being of the same size and each having a tapered cavity open at its larger end on the other side of said quoit and larger at its open end than the smaller end of said projections, and two holes in each arm of substantially the same size as the open ends of said cavities, said holes and said toe projection being equally spaced along the quoit.

4. A game apparatus comprising an omegoid quoit having spaced projections and pockets normal to the plane of said quoit, and a goal plate having pockets to receive a projection on said quoit and also having projections normal to said plate and smaller than the pockets in said quoit.

5. A game apparatus comprising an omegoid quoit having in its arms a plurality of spaced recesses, and a stake having at one end a cylindrical hub with radial projections smaller than the recesses in the quoit and spaced to correspond to the spacing of said recesses.

6. A game apparatus comprising an omegoid quoit having a plurality of spaced recesses near the rim, a stake, and a cylindrical hub on one end of said stake having two parallel rows of radially projecting pins, each adapted to fit loosely into any of said recesses in the quoit, each pin in one row being spaced from the corresponding pin in the other row to correspond to the spacing of the recesses in the quoit.

'7. A game apparatus comprising an omegoid quoit having a plurality of spaced recesses, and a stake having at one end a cylindrical hub with radial projections smaller than the recesses in the quoit and spaced to correspond to the spacing of said recesses.

8. A game apparatus comprising an omegoid quoit having a plurality of spaced recesses near a cylindrical hub on one end of said stake having two parallel rows of radially projecting pins, each adapted to fit loosely into a recess in the quoit, each pin in one row being spaced from the corresponding pin in the other row to correspond to the spacing of the recesses in the quoit.

9. A game apparatus comprising an omegoid quoit having a projection and a pocket both extending perpendicular to the plane of the quoit, and a flat quoit receiving member having perpendicular to its surface a projection smaller than the pocket in said quoit and also having in the same surface a pocket larger than the projection on said quoit.

10. A game apparatus comprising a flat quoit member and a flat goal member each having similarly spaced projections and pockets extending perpendicularly to the plane of said member, the pockets in each of said members being larger than the projections on the other member.

-l l. A? .game'. apparatusscomprisingan :omegoid quoit having a plurality of spaced projections and pockets extendln'gperpendicularly to the plane of the. quoit and :a goal. member having perpendicu-i lar'to its surface a -pocket larger than the projection: on said quoit'and also a projection smaller than the. pocket-inrsaidquoit';the spacingof said projection: and said pocket on said goal member beingathe same as the spac'ing of: said projections and pockets on said quoit." 1 l '12:: A'game apparatus comprising a -horseshoe shaped quoit having hollow lugs at the toe and heel, each of said lugs having a cavity which is open on the surface of the quoit opposite the lug,

and holes in the arms intermediate said lugs and at least as large as the cavities in said lugs, and a goal member having a projection smaller than the cavities in said lugs and also a hole larger than said lugs on said quoit.

13. An omegoid quoit having three equally spaced and like projections, one at the toe and one on each arm, each of the arms having a hole for receiving the free ends of like projections on a similar quoit, said hole in each arm being spaced from the arm projection and from the toe projection a distance equal to the minimum spacing of the two arm projections.

14. An omegoid quoit having a each arm, said projections being alike and on the same side of the quoit, and each arm having a hole for receiving like projections on a similar quoit, the minimum center to center distance between the hole in one arm and the hole in the other arm being the same as the minimum center to center distance between the projection on one arm and the projection on the other arm.

15. An omegoid quoit having three equally spaced and like projections, one at the toe and one on each arm, each of the arms having a hole for receiving the free ends of like projections on a similar quoit, the minimum distance between the hole in one arm and the corresponding hole in the other arm being equal to the minimum distance between two of said projections.

16. An omegoid quoit having on one side two similar arm projections, one on each arm, and in the other side three equally spaced and sub stantially similar recesses for receiving like projections on a similar quoit, one of said recesses being in the toe portion, a second recess in one of projection on said arms, and the third recess in the other arm of the quoit, the minimum distance between each of said recesses and the next being equal to the minimum distance between said arm projections. 1'7. An omegoid quoit having on one side two similar arm projections, one on each arm, a pocket at the top open to the other side of the quoit, and in each arm a hole spaced from said pocket a distance equal to the minimum distance between said arm projections, said holes and said pocket being of substantially the same size for receiving projections like said arm projections.

- 18. A horseshoe shaped quoit having a tapered projection at the toe and a similar tapered projection at the end of each arm projecting vertically from one side of the quoit, all said projections being of the same size and each having a tapered cavity open at its larger end on the other side of said quoit and larger at its open end than the smaller end of said projections, each arm having midway between the toe projection and the arm projection a hole of substantially the same size as the open ends of said cavities and spaced from said toe projection a distance equal to the minimum distance between said arm projections.

19. A horseshoe shaped quoit having a tapered projection at the toe and a similar tapered projection at the end of each arm projecting vertically from one side of the quoit, all said projections being tapered cavity open at its larger end on the other side of said quoit and larger at its open end than end of said projections, eacharm having two holes of substantially the same size as of the same size and each having a the open ends of said cavities, one of said holes in each arm being midway between the toe projection and the arm projection and spaced from said toe projection a distance equal to the minimum distance between said arm projections, and the other hole so located on the arm that the minimum distance between said other holes in the two arms of the quoit is equal to the minimum distance between said arm projections.

ROSCOE K. STOCKTON. 

